In a significant escalation of pressure against the Nicolás Maduro government in Venezuela, the United States has seized a large oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast. President Donald Trump announced the seizure, marking a bold move in the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the two nations.
The oil tanker, known as The Skipper, was intercepted by an elite Coast Guard unit rappelling down onto the vessel from helicopters. The operation, captured on video, has sparked accusations of “blatant theft” from the Venezuelan government, further straining relations between the two countries.
The tanker, previously sanctioned by the US in 2022 under a different name, is believed to have been carrying 1.1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil. This seizure comes amidst a backdrop of heightened US military presence in the region, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier.
The move is seen as a part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to increase pressure on President Maduro’s regime. The US has been vocal in its support for opposition leader Juan Guaidó and has imposed sanctions on Venezuela in an attempt to force political change in the country.
While the US sees the seizure as a necessary step to combat illicit activities and support democracy in Venezuela, critics argue that it represents a violation of international law and sovereignty. The incident has sparked concerns about the potential for further escalation and instability in the region.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Venezuela, the US, and the international community will respond to this latest development. The seizure of the oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast underscores the complex and volatile nature of the political dynamics in the region.
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References:
– BBC News: [US seizes oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, Trump says](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w9lg11jw0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)
– The Washington Post: [U.S. seizes ‘very large’ oil tanker off Venezuelan coast, Trump says](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxOWU90X2NwazBDcmdsMEtraTNhRm5LT19wUjRteXZNME93Qjh6NVB4OExYVm4xOXJfYXl6a2FtdzdKYl9hMnFOa21SMVAyanJPZEk1UU5O)
– Today: [US seizes oil tanker off Venezuela coast in major escalation](https://www.today.com/video/us-seizes-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-coast-in-major-escalation-254213701781)
– The Guardian: [What do we know about the oil tanker seized by the US off the Venezuela coast?](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/11/venezuela-oil-tanker-seized-us)
– CBS News: [Video shows U.S. seizure of oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/us-seizure-oil-tanker-venezuela/)
Political Bias Index: Neutral (Green)
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